Milk-can variable feeding mechanism



Jan. 14, 1930. HAGELINE 1,743,135

MILK CAN VARIABLE FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 26, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet lM- W Z5? M miarne Jan. 14, 1930. E. HAGELINE 1,743,135

MILK CAN VARIABLE FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 26, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Emil Ha eZi/ze ev7 I flak; itfwvzqy.

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Jan. 14, 1930.

E. HAGELINE 1,743,135

MILK CAN VARI ABLE FEEDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 25.1928 Patented Jan. 14, 1930 warren stares man. HAGELINE, OF CHICAGO,

serene ILLINOIS HULK-CAN VARIABLE FEEDING ME CH-IANISM Application filedNovember 26, 1928. Serial No. 321,838.

This invention relates to milk can conveying mechanism of the generaltype disclosed in the patents of McEwan, 1,454,124 of May 8, 1928, and1,649,073 of November 15, 1927, respectively. More particularly theinvention relates to variable means for conveying milk cans along atrackway in connection with a cleansing process.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved means forintermittently moving cans on a trackway in such a manner thatthecleansing operations for the individual cans may be performed in varyingspaces of time.

Another object is to provide an improved method and meansforaccelerating or retarding the intermittent actuation of the canconveying mechanism so that the number of cans washed in a given lengthof time may be multiplied if desired.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed, and will be best understood byreference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferredform'of my invention, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the feedingend of a can washing machine, parts being broken 3 away to more clearlyillustrate the construction. V A

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lower portion of the construction shown inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is .a cross section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing a milkcan in position to be moved forward.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of, the mechanism controlling the driving pulley.

Fig. 5 is a view of the mechanism taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, thecontrol being set for three cans per minute.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of the can controlling mechanism setfor six cans per minute. Q

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 4.: 1

Fig. 8 is .a section taken on line 88 of Fig. 4. I

Fig. 9 is a detail end face view ofa clutch employed in the mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a plan view ofthe star-wheel in position for handling sixcans per minute.

Fig. 11 is a view taken on line 1111 of Fig. 10.

' Fig. 12 is a detail view of a clutch element.

Fig. 13 is a detail view of a-bearing having a clutch shoe thereon.

Fig. 14 is a side view of the shifting pulley clutch.

In the drawings, 15 designates a suitable supporting frame in the upperportionof which are mounted spaced, centrally positioned, longitudinallyextending stationary guide rails 16, adapted to provide a guide forsuitably supporting the milk cans A, which are guided thereby into themechanism serving for the washing and cleansing operations. Similarlymounted on the left side is a longitudinally extending rail 17, servingas a guide for the milk can covers B also to be cleansed.

The conveying-of the cans A along the guide rails in a step by stepmovement, is accomplished by a feeding device comprisingelongated anglebars 18 which are arranged; between the guide rails 16 and reciprocate.ingly mounted on-rollers 19.

Pivotally connected to the angle bars 18 by pins 20 are trip fingers orpawls 21, which in normal position are substantially in the relationshown in Fig. 1, in which the forward ends thereof project above theupper edges of the guide rails 16*whereby the cans A on the guide railsare engaged for the forward advancing movement thereof, this being bestshown in Figs. 1 and 3. As clearly shown in Fig. 3 the trip fingers arelimited in their downward rocking movement by the flanges 18 of theangle bars 18. When the angle bars '18 are reciprocated, the pawls 21pivoted thereto will on the forward movement en;

gage the cans A and cause them to be slid or pushed along the guiderails 16. On the return movement of the angle bars, the trip fingers 21'will yield downwardly pivoting about the pins 20 as an axis, in thismanner permitting the cans to pass thereover, to be again engaged by thetripv fingers upon the forward movement of same as the an le bars 18reciprocate. The step by step 'orward move-:

ment of the cans, as set forth above is accomplished by thereciprocating movement of the .feeding mechanism, the forward distanceeach can moves being predetermined by the actual sweep of thereciprocating parts. It will be observed that the cans are individuallyengaged by a corresponding number of trip fingers or pawls so that anyone or a number ofthe cans may be intermittently conveyed through themachine by the step by step movement of the elements referred to above.

The mechanism for advancing the covers B through the machine in a stepby step movement is of similar construction to the details described inconnection with the actuation of the can feeding mechanism. This covermoving mechanism includes reciprocating bars 22 positioned on the leftof the guide rails 17 these feeding bars also having trip bar 26 beingprovided with a downwardly projecting extension 27 having an elongatedslot 28 wherein rides a roller 29 loosely I'nounted on a stud 30 securedto an arm 31, the latter being pivoted to a shaft 32 by a set-screw 33.The shaft 32 is rotatably' mounted in bearings 34 and 35 on a platform36 secured to the frame 15 by the angle irons 37.

'A motor 38 is mounted on the platform 36,

. the motor being coupled to a conventional gear transmission 39 havinga driving shaft 40 mounted in a bearing 41 supported on the platform 36.A pulley 42 is fixed to the shaft 40, power being transmitted therefromby a belt 43 which also passes over a larger pulley wheel 44 mounted onshaft .32. An idler friction pulley 45, engaging the belt 43, is

mounted on a rod 46 swingingly supported on the arms 47, 48, secured toarock shaft 49 mounted in bearings 50 on the platform 36, these bearings50, being secured to the platform by cap-screws 51. The rock shaft 49has an arm 52 integral therewith and extend- 'ed 'at right angles, thisarm being pivotally connected by pin 53 to a manually operable lever 54,slidably guided in a slot 55 inan upright member 56 of the frame, thelever 54 h'av-inga handle 57 and a plurality of notches 58, the latterproviding means whereby the levers may be locked in operative or ininoperative position in the slot 55. The manually operable lever 54serves to swing the friction pulley against the belt 43 therebytightening the latter about the'pulley wheels 42 and 44, andconsequently insuring the positive transmission of power from the motorto the can feeding mechanism.

The larger pulley wheel 44, as best shown in Fig. 4 has a hub 59 withtwo projecting pins 60, 61 secured to the periphery thereof and spaced180 apart. When the pulley wheel 44 revolves, these projecting pinsperiodically engage the teeth of a star-wheel 62 freely rotatable on ashaft 63 mounted in bearings 64, 65, secured to the platform 36 bycap-screws 66, these details being best shown in Figs. 4 and 7.

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 13 a marginally positioned outwardlyprojecting shoe 67 is provided on the side of the bearing 64, this shoecovers approximately 60 or more of an arc of the annular margin of oneside of the bearing 64. It will also be n ted the starwheel has likewisea segmental shoe 68 that coacts with and engages the shoe 6? of thebearing 64, as the star-wheel is rotated. The teeth of the star-wheelare six in number, these being engaged by the pins 60, 61 on the hub ofthe pulley-wheel 44 whereby each half revolution of the pulley-wheelwill engage one of the projecting pins 60, 61 with one of the teeth ofthe star-wheel, it being observed therefore that every completerevolution of the hub 59 will move the star-wheel one-third ofarevolution.

The opposite face of thestar-wheel 62 is provided with four lugs69,1'spaced approximately 90? apart, these lugs-engaging a correspondingnumber of lugs 70,3150 spaced 90 apart, formed on the interior of a cap71 secured in the end of shaft 63 by prongs 71' and locked thereon by "acap-screw 72. Confined between the cap'7l and the star-wheel 62 is acoil spring 73 which serves to hold the cap and star-wheel out ofengagement until the segmental shoe 68 of the stai wheel rides up on theinclined surface of the segmental shoe 67, of the bearing 62, therebylocking the cap and star-wheel together at the moment when the lugs ofthe star-wheel and cap mutually engage. See Figs. 4, 7 8, 10 and 11. Inthe position shown in Fig.4 the segmental shoes 67 and 68 are in fullengagement, the spring 73 being thereby compressed.

On a female clutc element 74 pinned to the shaft, 63, two lugs 7 5,spaced 180 apart are provided, these lugs coacting with lugs 7 6 formedon a coacting male clutch member 77, normally held in the position shownin Fig. 4 by the coil spring 7 7 which is confined between the bearingon the clutch member 77,-the latter being slidably secured to the shaft63 and movable thereon by a yoke member 7 8 loosely mounted in anannular recess -=formed on the male clutch member 77, the :yoke memberhaving arms 79 pivoted on projecting pins 80 provided on a collar, 81,clamped to the interior of a male clutch ele ment' 85, the collar 81consisting of two sections, 82,83 secured by cap-screws 84. The clutchmember 85 is slidably secured by a spline 85 on the shaft 32, as bestshown in Figs. 4 and 14 and has two. projecting lugs 86 coacting withthe lugs 87 on the side of the hub 59. A pin 88 rearwardly projectingfrom the clutch member 85 is adapted,

of three cans per minute.

when this clutch member is slid on the shaft 32, to be received ina'hole orrecess in a joist 89 secured on the platform 36.

A regulating rod 90 having a shoe 91 on the end thereof, is providedwith a knob 92 having an indicating finger 93 integral therewith, therod 90 being turnably supported in the bearings 64, 65. A pawl 94pivotally mounted in a side wall of the bearing is adapted to engagenotches 95 in a collar 96 fastened to the rod 90, the pawl serving tolock the regulating rod in position for controlling a three per minuteor six per minute feeding operation. A lug 97 on shaft 63, as best shownin Figs. 5 and 6, engages the pawl 94 on every revolution of this shaft,the pawl 94 being hereby automatically disengaged from the notches 95.The chief purpose of the lug 97 is to permit the manipulation ofregulating rod 90 at the proper time for selecting the three per minuteor six per minute feeding operations.

The description set forth above is based on the operation of the machinewith an output Assuming the pulley wheel 44 to be constantly turning,every half revolution-thereof will bring on'eof the two pins 60, 61 onthe integral hub thereof into engagement with one of the teeth of thestar-wheel to be turned, the latter as pointed out above being looselymounted on the shaft 63. After three of the teeth of the star wheel havebeen moved by the engagement of the pins 60, 61, this being equivalentto one and a half revolutions of the pulley wheel 44,

further revolution of the pulley wheel will now cause the engagement ofone of the pins 60, 61 with the fourth tooth of the star-wheel, thistooth bringing the shoes 67, 68 into engagement and consequently causingthe sliding of the star-wheel to the left as the beveled surfaces ofthese shoes coact, thereby pushing the star-wheel against the resistanceof the coil spring 73 'to the position shown in Fig. 4 where the lugs69, engage. The cap 71 and the shaft 63 secured thereto will now move asthe star-wheel is rotated. Further rotation of the pulley-wheel 44 willnow bring one of the pins 60, 61 into engagement with the fifth tooth ofthe star-wheel.

Simultaneously with the actuation of the fourth tooth, the clutchelement 78 is brought a into engagement with the clutch element 77,

consequently causing the rotation of shaft 32 from the moment theseclutch elements are in engagement, which as shown in Fig. 4, occurs atthe completion of the fourth revolution of the pulley-wheel 44. The nextrevowheel 62, the sixth tooth of which upon being actuated will move thestar-wheel to effect the disengagement of the lugs thereon from the lugsof the cap, and simultaneously therewith the disengagement of the shoes74, 7 5 the clutch element 85 likewise being slid to the right andreleased from theclutch element on the hub. When this occurs the pin 88enters the recess in joist 89 thereby locking the shaft 32 fromrotation. When it is desired to disconnect the source of power, theoperating lever 54 will be manipulated to cause the friction pulley 45to be released from the belt 43, causing the latter to slip on pulley44. This completes one cycle of the functioning of the apparatus causinga forwardand backward reciprocation of the feeding mecha- 11isn1,-thiscycle being repeated indefinitely.

When it is desired to double the output of cans washed per minute, theadjusting knob will be turned to position the regulating rod andconsequently the shoe 91 to hold the starwheel constantly in theposition shown in Fig. 4. Again assuming the pulley 44 to becontinuously turning, the pins 60 and 61 will engage the teeth of thestar-wheel 62, the lugs 69 of which will be engaged with the lugs 70 ofthe cap 71. It will now be apparent that the star-wheel, the cap and theshaft 63 will simultaneously revolve, the clutch element revolvingtherewith will in consequence engage the coacting clutch element 76 atevery half revolution, causing the latter and the yoke 78 mountedthereon to slide the clutch member out of contact with clutch element 87on the hub of pulley 44, in this manner the shaft 32 on which the clutch85 is slidably splined will be periodically rendered temporarily idle,but the shaft 82 will be intermittently actuated double the number oftimes than in the disposition of parts described above with reference tothe device timed for three cans per minute. In the present dispositionof parts, it will be obvious the clutch elements 84 and 87 will be inengagement two of the three revolutions of thepulley 44 and out ofengagement one revolution of the pulley,.this as pointed out aboveresulting in two complete reciprocations of the can feeding mechanism,to three revolutions of the pulleywheel. 0

While I have described with particularity a preferred form ofconstruction it is distinctly to be understood that the invention is notto be limited by the precise details of construction as set forth henceI do not confine myself to the exact details save to the extent theseare circumscribed within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatorycarriage, cam operated means on said carriage for engagement with acanfor intermittently movin cans along said trackway upon reciprocatlon ofsaid carriage, andmeans connected to the carriage for varying the rateof movement of said cans along the trackway. i

.2. Can feeding mechanism fc-omprising a trackway, a reciprocatorycarriage for moving cans along said trackway, adjustable means forreciprocating said carriage for the conveyance ofa predeterminednumberof cans in a given interval of time, and means to vary the movement ofsaid reciprocatory carriage for doubling the rate of movement of saidcans along the trackway.

'3. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatorycarriage for moving-cans and covers along said trackway, manuallyadjustable means for causing the reciprocation of said carriage apredetermined 'number of times in a given interval oftime,

and means to vary the reciprocating movement of the carriage, ifdesired.

4;. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatorycarriage for moving cans along said trackway, automatic means forintermittently conveying a predetermined number of cans along thetrackway,

and means optionally 'engageable and man ually adjustable for varyingthe number of cans to be moved along the trackway.

5. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriagefor moving cans along said trackway, means for varying the number ofcansto be moved along said trackway during any given interval of time, saidmeans including a plurality of coacting clutches automatically andselectively engageable, said clutches being connected to saidreciprocatory carriage.

6. Can feeding mechanlsm. comprlsing a trackway, a reciprocatorycarriage for moving cans along said trackway, and means for variablyreciprocating said carriage, said means being automatically actuated andhaving manually adjustable elements connected to the trackway wherebythe movement of cans along said trackway may be accelerated andretarded, as desired.

7 Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriagefor moving cans along said trackway, means connected to saidreciprocatory carriage for accelerating and retarding the movementthereof, said means consisting of a drive shaft and acounter-shaftinterconnected through a ser1es of clutches, two of said clutches beingmounted on said counter-shaft, the other of said clutches being slidable'on said drive shaft. 7

8. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriagefor moving cans along .said trackway, means for reclprocating saidcarriage for the intermittent advancin of cans thereon in a forwarddirection, sai means consisting of a pair of clutches on acounter-shaft, each of' said clutches having a spring pressed elementfor acting clutch element, and a third clutch connected to a slidableelement on one of the said first mentioned clutches.

9. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriagefor moving'cans along said trackway, means including a pulley wheelhaving a hub provided with a pair of projecting pins coacting-with teethon a star wheel, said star-wheel being freely rotatable on acounter-shaft and having integral lugs on the side thereof, said lugscoacting with corresponding lugs on a cap secured to said counter-shaftwhen the star wheel is slidably moved to bring said lugs into coaction,a second clutch on. said counter-shaft, said counter-shaft beingintermittently moved by thelugs of said starwheel and said cap at timeswhen a lug on the said star-wheel impinges against a corre-* spondinglug on a bearing supporting said counter-shaft, and a third clutchslidably splined on a drive-shaft, said third clutch having a connectionto one of said first mentioned clutches whereby said pulley wheelisrotated, movement will be communicated to said star wheel andconsequently to said counter-shaft and thence to said drive shaft,

said drive'shaftmoving at a differing rate of speed from saidcounter-shaft.

'10; In combination with can conveying I mechanism including a trackwayand a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans and covers along saidtrackway, a plurality of pins on the hub of a pulley wheel, a starwheelfreely rotatable on a counter-shaft and having a plurality of teethengaging said pins periodically, means to intermittently.

nnnect said star-wheel and shaft operatively I to intermittently connectsaid star-wheel and shaft operatively together, means to intermittent'lyconnect a shaft with said countershaft, said shaft having a connectionto said reciprocatory carriage, and means to Vary the number ofintermittent connections of said shaft and counter-shaft.

12. In combination with can conveying mechanism including a trackway anda reciprocatory carriage for moving cans and covers 'along saidtrackway, a counter-shaft operatively connected to andintermittentlyactuated by a power driven pulley freely rotatable on a shaft and meanson said counter-shaft for intermittently disengaging and. locking amember from a clutch element integral with the hub of said pulley. e

13. In combination with can conveying mechanism including a trackway anda reciprocatory carriage for moving cans and covers along said trackway,a counter-shaft 0peratively connected to and intermittently actuated bya power driven pulley freely rotatable on a shaft, a plurality ofclutches on said counter-shaft, one of said clutches serving to connectand disconnect said counter-shaft intermittently with pins on the hub ofsaid pulley, said second clutch providing an independent means ofintermittently transmitting movementof said counter-shaft to an elementslidable on said shaft, said last mentioned element being engaged withand disengaged from a clutch integral with the hub of sald pulley.

14. In combination with [can conveying mechanism including a trackwayand a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans and covers along saidtrackway, a pulley freely rotatable on ashaft, said pulley having a hubprovided with a pair of projecting pins, each of said pins-whensaidpulley is rotating en-v gaging periodically one of a series of teethon a star-wheel freely rotatable on a countershaft but engaging with anddisengaging from an element fixed to said counter-shaft whereby as saidcountershaft is intermittently rotated by said star-wheel a secondclutch in the counter-shaft provides an independentintermittentlyoperated' means for engaging and disengaging a clutchelement slidable on said shaft and coacting with a clutch memberintegral with the hub of said pulley.

15. Can feeding mechanism comprising a.

trackway, a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans along sald trackway,means forre-- ciprocating said carriage for the washing of apredetermined number of cans in a given a trackway, a reciprocatorycarriage, and manually adjustable means connected tosaid can conveyingmechanism for reciprocating said carriage a variable number of times ina given interval of time. I I

18. Can conveying mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatorycarriage for moving cans along said trackway, means for reciprocatingsaid carriage a variable number of times in a given interval of time,said means including a shaft connected to a counter-shaft, said shaftbeing intermittently engaged and disengaged from a source of power by aplurality of clutches mounted on said counter-shaft, one of saidclutches having a connection to a pulley connected to said source ofpower, and means manually operable for ,varymg the number of revolutionssaid counter-shaft makes in a given interval of time. 19. Can conveyingmechanism comprising a trackway, areciprocatory carriage for moving cansalong said tr'ackway, means for reciprocating said carriage at twodifiering rates ofspeed, said means including a power driven pulleyloosely mounted on a shaft and having a plurality of pins engaging astarwheel loosely mounted on a counter-shaft means to automaticallyengage said starwheel operatively to said counter-shaft, manuallyoperable means fomengaging the starwheel to the counter-shaft, and meanson said counter-shaft to intermittently disengage a clutch engaged bysaid pulley. In testimony whereof l have signed my name to thisspecification. 5) E HAGELINE interval'of time, said means including ashaft havlng an operative-connection to a countershaft, saidcounter-shaft being intermittently turned as said shaft is rotated, anda clutch on said counter-shaft connected to a clutch on said shaft toprovide for the intermittent disengagement of said last mentionedclutch.

16. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatorycarriage for moving cans along said trackway, means for varying thenumber of cans to be moved alon said trackway during any given interval0' time,

said means including a plurality of coacting clutches mounted on a shaftand counter v shaft operatively connected, said shaft beingintermittently actuated through one of the said clutches on thecounter-shaft, said counter-shaft beingaintermittently operated by ameans rotatable with said sha 17'. Can conveying mechanism comprisingice

